gwai3 faa1桂花
Jyutpinggwai3 faa1
Yalegwai fā
Definition
Sweet osmanthus; a fragrant flowering plant used in desserts and traditional medicine.
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How it's used
Often associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival, this flower is highly prized for its delicate, honey-like fragrance. It is frequently used in traditional desserts and teas rather than as a decorative garden plant in urban Hong Kong settings. The scent is considered a quintessential autumn aroma in Chinese culture.
Measure word
do2朵dóExamples
The sweet osmanthus here smells so good.
Do you like eating sweet osmanthus jelly?
Related words
Grammar color guide
Noun
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Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
